Doug Duchardt, who has served in various roles at Hendrick Motorsports for the last eight years, has been named general manager of the organization.

The former General Motors executive had overseen the development of chassis, race-car bodies and engines for Hendrick and will now oversee all racing operations, including team personnel, pit crews, research and development and engineering in addition to the areas of race-car construction and engines.

Duchardt, 49, will report to team owner Rick Hendrick and company president Marshall Carlson (Hendrick’s son-in-law).

“Doug has led by example from his first day with us,” Hendrick said in a statement. “We’re in a competitive and ever-changing industry, and he brings a global view that will be critical to our long-term success.

“Doug shares the organization’s values, understands the importance of relationships and has helped promote a culture of teamwork and communication. We know those are things he will lean on and grow in the years to come.”

Duchardt graduated from Missouri University of Science and Technology in 1987 with a mechanical engineering degree. He earned a master’s degree in engineering from Purdue University in 1992 and received an honorary professional degree from Missouri S&T in 2009.

“I’m honored to work with this incredible team of people,” Duchardt said. “I will continue to focus on giving them the resources and opportunities they need to be successful. We have a winning tradition that all of us want to protect and build on, and I’m lucky to be in a position to contribute to those efforts.”

Hendrick Motorsports fields four Cup teams and currently has four of the top-10 drivers in the standings. Jimmie Johnson, who won five consecutive Cup titles from 2006-2010, leads the Cup standings, while Dale Earnhardt Jr. is fifth, Kasey Kahne is ninth and four-time Cup champion Jeff Gordon is 10th.